CHICAGO, IL – A massive search effort is underway for six construction workers who were on the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore when it was struck by a Maersk-chartered ship and collapsed into the Patapsco River around 1 a.m. Tuesday morning, shutting down a critical artery for East Coast shipping.
James Wallace, chief of the Baltimore City Fire Department, said a vessel leaving the Port of Baltimore struck the Key Bridge causing it to collapse in seconds. The cargo ship smashed into one of the columns before the bridge snapped, hit the water and partially fell on the ship, where a burst of flames and smoke could be seen rising into the sky.
Several vehicles were on the bridge at the time of impact and were plunged into the Patapsco River. There were also multiple contractors on the bridge who were repairing potholes. A Baltimore City Fire Department spokesperson told Reuters that as many as 20 people could be in the river along with “numerous vehicles, and possibly a tractor-trailer or vehicle as large as a tractor-trailer, (that) went into the river.”
Wallace said two people were rescued in the initial hours of the search: one was unharmed and the other remains in “very serious condition.” The crew that was on the ship when it collided with the bridge remains on the vessel, which needs to be assessed for damage before rescuers can board it.
A mayday call enabled officials to stop traffic at both ends of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge and try to evacuate people from the span before it collapsed on Tuesday. The crew of the cargo ship leaving the Port of Baltimore told Harbor Control that they had lost power and propulsion, the officials said.
Tuesday’s disaster may be the worst U.S. bridge collapse since 2007 when the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis collapsed into the Mississippi River, killing 13.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore declared a state of emergency to quickly deploy federal resources to deal with the emergency. Traffic was suspended at the Port of Baltimore until further notice, Maryland transportation authorities said. It is the busiest U.S. port for car shipments, handling more than 750,000 vehicles in 2022, according to port data.
Who is liable for the bridge accident?
After the ship caused a bridge to collapse in Baltimore early Tuesday morning, work to determine who is responsible awaits.
The cause of the incident must be established first. After that, responsibility will have to be assigned and that could likely end up being the ship owner.
The Danish shipping company Maersk chartered the ship from its owner, a Singapore-based company called Grace Ocean Private Ltd. The owner will have entered into a so-called time charter agreement with the operator; however, this agreement can only be obtained if the ship’s owners have taken out liability insurance.
The ship’s insurer is the P&I club Britannia, which is currently working with the ship manager and other relevant authorities to determine the cause of the accident.
While there is no simple answer, it’s important to consult with an experienced international maritime lawyer who understands the complexity of these cases due to investigations lasting for extended periods of time. Investigators will look at operation vessels with regard to collision regulations, electronic navigation logs, log books, the testimony of crew members and eyewitnesses, safety practices, operational philosophies observed, level of injury and physical damage, amongst other factors. After the at-fault has been determined (which can often take years involving legal proceedings), insurance companies and/or the owner of the boat will generally pay.
Authorities haven’t determined the precise cause, but U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin told The Baltimore Sun in a phone interview that indications point to the vessel losing power, causing it to lose steering.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating, a spokesperson for the board said.
